Can you recall the longest NHL game you watched?
I remember vividly watching several of the 10 longest overtime games in NHL playoff history, but the one that resonates the most is Petr Nedvěd’s winner for the Pittsburgh Penguins over the Washington Capitals in the first round of the 1996 playoffs.
Let’s stroll down memory lane together, recapping the longest marathons.
NHL Playoffs: 10 Longest Overtime Games All Time
10. Sharks vs. Stars — May 4, 2008
With Brendan Morrow’s winning goal at 9:03 of the fourth overtime period, the Dallas Stars eliminated the San Jose Sharks in six games.
The Sharks outshot the Stars 62-55, but Dallas goaltender Marty Turco turned aside 61 shots in the 2-1 win. Despite winning the series in six games, the Stars lost to the Detroit Red Wings in the Western Conference final.
The game lasted 129:03.
9. Maple Leafs vs. Red Wings — March 23, 1943
The Toronto Maple Leafs’ Jack McLean scored the game-winner at 10:18 of the fourth overtime period. The game lasted 130:18, and the victory levelled the series at one game apiece, with the Red Wings advancing in six games.
Detroit won the Stanley Cup, beating the Boston Bruins in four straight.
8. Stars vs. Canucks — April 11, 2007
Turco participated in two of the 10 longest games in NHL history, this time in Vancouver against the Canucks in the opening game of the 2007 playoffs.
Turco was the quieter of goalies, with the Canucks’ Roberto Luongo making 72 saves in the 5-4 victory.
The game lasted 130:18, with Henrik Sedin scoring at 18:06 of the fourth overtime period.
7. Penguins vs. Capitals — April 24, 1996
In the first round of the 1996 playoffs, the Penguins won a critical Game 4 in the fourth overtime period to even the series at two.
Nedved scored the winner at 19:15, and the game lasted 139:15. The Pens went on to win the series, but lost to the Florida Panthers in the Eastern Conference final.
6. Panthers vs. Hurricanes — May 18, 2023
Matthew Tkachuk scored the overtime winner with 13 seconds remaining in the fourth extra session, giving the Panthers the 1-0 series lead.
The game lasted for 139:47, and the Panthers went on to sweep the series but lost in the Stanley Cup Final to the Vegas Golden Knights.
5. Ducks vs. Stars — April 24, 2003
Remember when they were called the Mighty Ducks of Anaheim? They showed their might in a marathon contest in 2003, defeating the Stars 4-3 in the fifth overtime period of Game 1 of the Western Conference semifinals.
Petr Sýkora scored the game-winner at the 140:48 mark. Despite finishing 16 points behind the Stars and being the hockey odds underdogs, the Mighty Ducks won in six games.
They also made a habit of winning in the extra session and are among those with the record for most overtime wins in NHL playoff history. Anaheim eventually lost in the Stanley Cup Final to the New Jersey Devils.
4. Blue Jackets vs. Lightning — Aug. 11, 2020
The Columbus Blue Jackets and Tampa Bay Lightning played the most thrilling playoff game in front of no fans, which required five overtime sessions to decide the winner.
Brayden Point scored the winner 10:27 into the fifth overtime to secure victory for the Lightning, who were among the Stanley Cup odds favourites entering the postseason.
Like Anaheim in 2003, the Lightning were exceptional in overtime, winning seven en route to securing the Stanley Cup. The game lasted 150:27.
3. Flyers vs. Penguins — May 4, 2000
The Philadelphia Flyers’ Keith Primeau scored the overtime winner against the Penguins in Game 4 of the Eastern Conference semifinals.
The goal came at the 12:01 mark of the fifth overtime session, with the contest lasting for 152:01. The Flyers prevailed in the series, winning in six games, but lost in the Eastern Conference final to the Devils.
2. Bruins vs. Maple Leafs — April 3, 1933
Imagine watching a game for over eight periods with no goals. It’s an exhausting thought. Well, the two longest games in NHL history each had just one goal.
The second-longest overtime game occurred on April 3, 1933, when the Maple Leafs outlasted the Bruins 1-0, thanks to Ken Doraty’s winner in the sixth overtime session.
He scored the goal at 4:46 of the sixth overtime session, with the game lasting 164:46. The Maple Leafs advanced to the final but lost to the New York Rangers.
1. Red Wings vs. Montreal Maroons — March 24, 1936
Three years after the marathon in Toronto, the Red Wings and Montreal Maroons set the record for the longest game, which still stands.
The only goal took the equivalent of almost three games, with Mud Brunteau scoring the winner at 16:30 of the sixth overtime session. The game lasted 176:30, four minutes short of a 10th period.
The Red Wings swept the Maroons and overcame the Maple Leafs to win the Stanley Cup.
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